Senior Account Executive, Corporate & Public Affairs

Burson•Chicago, IL

2d•$40,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Burson is seeking a Senior Account Executive for their Workplace & Purpose team, focusing on corporate impact, sustainability storytelling, and corporate communications within the Corporate and Public Affairs practice. This role is ideal for a communications generalist eager to develop expertise in purpose communications and broader corporate reputation management. The position involves helping clients articulate complex issues, bring corporate impact programs to life through strategic storytelling, and engage with various stakeholders including employees, investors, and communities. Responsibilities may encompass media relations, message development, community engagement, ESG and climate communications, corporate partnerships, employee initiatives, and issues management. The candidate should be adept at meeting clients at their current stage and guiding them toward meaningful progress.

Requirements

Approximately 2–3 years of relevant communications experience.
Hands-on media relations experience, including building media lists and directly pitching reporters.
Strong writing and content-development skills.
Experience or demonstrated interest in sustainability, climate, corporate impact, ESG, public affairs, or related topics.
The ability to speak credibly about climate and sustainability topics and quickly learn technical subject matter.
A communications background; experience focused only on program development without communications execution will not be sufficient for this role.
Curiosity, eagerness, and a track record of learning quickly.
A flexible, generalist mindset and willingness to work across a range of clients and business issues.
The judgment to work constructively with organizations whose practices or perspectives may not fully align with your own, helping them advance their goals responsibly.

Nice To Haves

Experience pitching sustainability or social-impact media.
Public affairs, policy, advocacy, or government experience paired with communications and media-relations skills.
Exposure to employee communications, change management, employer brand, or community-engagement work.
Familiarity with ESG reporting or related frameworks.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute communications programs across corporate impact, sustainability, corporate affairs, and employee engagement.
Build targeted media lists and pitch sustainability, social impact, business, and corporate media.
Write clear, compelling content, including pitches, messaging, memos, plans, and other client materials.
Conduct research and translate complex climate, policy, and business topics into accessible communications.
Support storytelling around community engagement, corporate partnerships, ESG, and sustainability initiatives.
Contribute to issues-management work involving evolving expectations, regulations, and stakeholder priorities.
Collaborate across disciplines, including public affairs, corporate communications, and employee engagement.
Help manage day-to-day client work, priorities, and deliverables across a varied account portfolio.